Jesse Babcock Ferguson
1819-1870

Courtesy of
C. Wayne Kilpatrick
12.2012

Biographical Sketch On The Life Of Jesse B. Ferguson

          Like a meteor which flashes across the horizon, making a trail of glorious light behind it, and then suddenly disappearing and leaving nothing but darkness in its wake, so Jesse B. Ferguson came above the horizon and shone as a great pulpit orator in the church of Christ at Nashville, Tenn., and then as suddenly disappeared and dropped into obscurity. Perhaps no preacher of the gospel ever stood so high in the estimation of the people and received the plaudits of the populace and then dropped so low as did this man.

          Jesse Babcock Ferguson was born in the city of Philadelphia, Pa., January 19, 1819. His father, Robert French Ferguson, was of Scotch descent, and his mother, Hannah Champlain Babcock, was of English descent. His grandmother on his father's side was of the Quaker family of French, who were among the early settlers of New Jersey. His mother was related to the Babcocks and Champlains of Rhode Island and was mingled with Puritan and Quaker blood. Soon after Jesse B.'s birth the family moved to the Shenandoah Valley, in Virginia. His father resided near Winchester. At the age of eleven Jesse B. was placed in Fair View Academy, and made rapid progress in his studies. At the age of fourteen young Ferguson met with a severe disappointment. His elder brothers had been educated at William and Mary College, one of the oldest educational institutions in Virginia, and Jesse B. had expected to take his turn as a student there. His father had some financial reverses and could not give him the advantages that his brothers had. Young Ferguson was so sorely disappointed that he resolved to turn his attention to something that would furnish him with money to continue his education.

          He decided to apprentice himself in the printing office of a newspaper published in Winchester. A little more than a year after young Ferguson had entered the office as an apprentice his employer failed in business and was obliged to cease publishing the paper. He released young Ferguson from his obligations as an apprentice and advised him to obtain a classical education. His father would not let him give up his apprenticeship and soon found work for him in a book printing establishment in Baltimore, Md. He remained here but a few weeks, when his health gave way and he had to return home. He had what was then called "white swelling," as a result of which, after suffering for three months, he was left a cripple for life. About this time an elder brother, R. F. Ferguson, became editor of a paper published in Virginia. Jesse B. soon joined his brother and continued his studies with his work. He completed the courses in Latin and Greek. At the age of twenty-one he left Virginia and went to Ohio. He opened a school in Logan County, and taught for a while there. He married the daughter of James Mark, who had gone from Kentucky to that State. He did not remain very long in Ohio, but came to Southern Kentucky, where his wife's kinspeople lived. He became a Christian, and soon began to take public part in the worship.

          Jesse B. Ferguson became a preacher of the gospel in 1838. He preached for four years in Kentucky and established many congregations in the rural sections of that State. He was applauded there as a very brilliant and eloquent preacher. He soon became known over the State of Kentucky and was acclaimed as one of the best preachers in the entire State. He was brilliant, and he knew it. He was possessed with a very high degree of self-esteem, and fed his vanity until he developed into a very sophisticated preacher. Some claim that he was spoiled by the compliments that he received and the praises which were given him. Few men have possessed such conceit as he had. Of course, as he developed so much egotism, he lost in spirituality.

          In 1842 the church at Nashville, Tenn., which numbered about five hundred members, was growing rapidly. Alexander Campbell had frequently visited the church and had greatly strengthened it. Dr. Wharton was serving as elder and also preacher of the church at that time. Philip S. Fall had labored with the church until he had built up a very strong congregation. In May, 1842, Jesse B. Ferguson was invited to hold a series of meetings. He had become quite prominent in Kentucky at that time. He came and preached for two weeks. He captivated his audiences, and his fame soon spread throughout the city and surrounding country. His audiences increased in number until the church house was filled to overflowing. He had many additions to the church during this meeting. At the close of the meeting he was invited to come and work with the church in Nashville. He was greatly flattered by the invitation, but did not accept it. Again, in 1844, by invitation, he visited the church and held another meeting, which was even a greater success than his former meeting. From the time that he closed the meeting in 1844 until February 24, 1846, he was constantly implored by letters to come and take up work with the church in Nashville.

          He left his family in Southern Kentucky and came to Nashville in February, 1846, and remained with the church one year. At the close of the year he was waited upon by a committee of the church with a unanimous request that he accept the work for another year. He took a month's vacation and brought his family, in March, 1847, to live in Nashville and work with the church. For five years he preached for the church and enjoyed almost unexampled success. The church continued to increase in number and popularity in the city until it was necessary to erect a larger house. The church of Christ in Nashville, with Jesse B. Ferguson as its preacher, enjoyed a greater prominence and popularity than any of the denominational churches. During this time Brother Ferguson was looked upon as the greatest pulpit orator that ever visited Nashville, and he enjoyed the fame of being the greatest and most eloquent pulpit orator in the South. He was popular with all the churches of Christ in Tennessee and the South. He is described as a man of fine personal appearance, a very fluent writer, and a very fascinating and eloquent speaker.

          In January, 1844, Tolbert Fanning began to publish the Christian Review, and continued the publication of this journal for four years. He was pressed with other duties, and he turned the publication of the Christian Review over to Jesse B. Ferguson. Brother Ferguson changed the name of the publication and became the editor of the Christian Magazine. The first issue of this paper was published in Nashville, January, 1848. Brother Ferguson had associated with Tolbert Fanning and B. F. Hall. The names of these brethren appeared as associate editors for only two issues. Brother Ferguson continued the publication of the Christian Magazine for six years. During the era of his popularity he was made a member of the Board of Trustees of Franklin College. His name appears on the list of the members of the board of Franklin College for 1848. No man had more honors thrust upon him by the brotherhood in Nashville and in Tennessee than did Brother Ferguson. He was the preacher for the largest congregation in the State; the most popular preacher in Nashville; a member of the board of trustees for Franklin College, which was presided over by Tolbert Fanning, who was a prince among educators in the brotherhood at that time; and the editor in chief of the Christian Magazine. Brother Ferguson had the qualities of a successful politician. He flattered all and was flattered by all. For several months he enjoyed the honor and distinction of being the youngest preacher in the city and the most famous one.

          In April, 1852, in giving an exposition of 1 Pet. 3:19, he expressed the sentiment that all "whose place of birth and external circumstances prevented the hearing of the gospel in life would not be condemned without hearing it." This was published in the Christian Magazine, in the April issue. Alexander Campbell took issue with this exposition. Brother Ferguson became irritated and highly incensed that any one should contradict anything that he should write or preach. He began at once to defend his position vigorously, and finally took the position that 1 Pet. 3:19 taught that people would have a second chance after death to obey the gospel. Alexander Campbell exposed his theory, and finally Brother Ferguson went into Universalism and spiritualism. He was so popular that he carried a very large percentage of the church in Nashville with him. Many other churches in Tennessee were affected by his teaching. Alexander Campbell continued to expose him, and he continued to flounder and drift until he left the tenets of the faith and blasphemed the church of our Lord. One says of him that he "rose to such a height in the estimation of his hearers, and especially his own, that his head became giddy, and, being no longer able to preserve his religious equilibrium, he was precipitated doctrinally into the region of departed spirits, where he immediately attempted to immortalize himself by new discoveries." The church in Nashville was completely destroyed by his influence.

          There were a few brethren in the church who continued to hold to the faith of the gospel. They were driven from the church house and were not permitted to worship in the house. Suit was instituted by these brethren to claim the house. The matter went into court and was finally decided in favor of the few brethren who had remained loyal to the New Testament teaching. A day or two after the suit was decided, April 8, 1857, the church house was burned. The fire was discovered about six o'clock that morning. Many thought that it was set on fire by some of Jesse B. Ferguson's admirers. Mr. Ferguson continued for a while in Nashville, but began to lose his influence. He published a book on "Spirit Communion," in which he gives a record of some supposed communication which he had had with the "spirit spheres." Later he went to Mississippi, and thence to New Orleans, preaching the doctrine of spiritualism and then Universalism. He continued to lose his influence and finally quit preaching. He dropped out of public notice and died in obscurity. We find the following in the Nashville Union and American, a daily paper published in Nashville at that time, issue of September 4, 1870:

DEATH OF REV. J. B. FERGUSON

          We are pained to chronicle this morning the death of our eminent fellow citizen, Rev. J. B. Ferguson, who died at his residence yesterday morning, three miles from the city, after a lingering disease. Some years ago, when Mr. Ferguson was pastor of the Christian Church, he enjoyed a reputation for pulpit oratory second to no man in the South. He commenced life as a printer's boy, and was emphatically a self-made man, having by studious attention, while employed at the printing business, fitted himself for the ministry. He was a man of popular manners, warm and open-hearted in his nature, and generally esteemed by a large circle of friends.

          Brother D. Lipscomb wrote of him in the Gospel Advocate, September 22, 1870:

          It may be a matter of sad interest to our readers to know the fate of this once honored but erratic man. He was the most popular preacher in the Southern country at one time. He was almost worshiped by his admirers in this city, where he ministered as preacher of the church of Christ. He had not that humility of soul and strength of character to stand flattery and adulation heaped upon him. He apostatized from the faith and adopted latitudinarian views in his faith and with reference to morality. He attempted to build up a congregation of adherents on his loose views. He failed, turned politician, veered to different points of the compass as the popular winds seemed to blow. He lost respect of all parties here. Once no citizen of Nashville but felt it an honor to be recognized by him. In later years he was scarcely recognized by his former acquaintances even of the world when met on the streets. The contrast was too painful to be borne by one so ambitious of popular applause as he. So, although his family resided in the vicinity, of late years he was seldom upon the streets of Nashville. . . He died on Saturday, September 3, 1870. On Lord's day he was buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery. The funeral services were performed by Dr. Baird, of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

          His death attracted scarcely a passing notice from the daily press and hardly a remark on the streets of Nashville of one who at one time was the most honored and esteemed pulpit orator. His life and death should teach a sad lesson to popular preachers and those who depart from the word of God to gain the plaudits of the world.

—From Biographical Sketches Of Gospel Preachers, H. Leo Boles, Gospel Advocate Company, Nashville, Tennessee, 1932, pages 186-191

Chronology On The Life Of Jesse B. Ferguson

Key To References:

LMAH – Like A Meteor Across The Horizon, The Jesse B. Ferguson Story, by Johnny Tucker, Tucker Publications, 104 Hill St. Fayetteville, Tennessee, 1978

BP – Biographical Sketches of Gospel Preachers, H. Leo Boles, Gospel Advocate, 1932. The articles appearing in this book appeared in earlier pages of the Gospel Advocate magazine.

GA – Gospel Advocate

MH – Millennial Harbinger, edited by Alexander Campbell

Chronology prepared by Scott Harp, your web editor. Parts were taken from Like A Meteor Across The Horizon, by Johnny Tucker. Other sources, noted above, were enlisted for additional information.

Jesse B. Ferguson is buried in the Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Nashville Tennessee. The cemetery is located on Lebanon Pike, Southeast of downtown. Click over to Mt. Olivet for map and location of the grave in the cemetery. His remains rest in Section 1 - Lot #53

GPS Coordinates
N36º 09' 05.5" x WO 86º 44' 01.8"
or D.d 36.151412,-86.733641
Accuracy To Within 21'
Facing East

View Larger Map 

Jesse B. Ferguson, D.D.
Born Jan. 19,1819;
Died Sept. 3, 1870.
Lucinda Vance,
Wife Of Jesse B. Ferguson,
Born Nov. 10, 1820;
Died Mar. 24, 1880.
Mary Meriwether,
Daughter Of
Jesse B. & L.V. Ferguson,
Born Mar. 13, 1844;
Died Apr. 6, 1884.

Henry H. Harrison
Born, Feb. 16, 1804
Died Dec. 14, 1877
Rebecca
Wife Of
Henry H. Harrison
Born In Portsmouth, Eng.
Nov. 16, 1808
Died June 12, 1871

Jessie F.
Son Of
Geo. W. & Virginia C.
Harrison
Born Jan. 4, 1871;
Died Sept. 22, 1875
Robert F.
Son Of
Geo. W. & Virginia C. Harrison
Born May 8, 1875;
Died Oct. 1, 1875.
George W. Harrison
Born July 21, 1837
Died July 6, 1886
A Member of Co. B 1st Tenn.
Reg't. C.S.A.

Father &  Mother Of Jesse B. Ferguson:
Robert French Ferguson
Born Nov. 30, 1790
Died, March 18, 1862
Hannah Champlin
Wife Of
Robert E. Ferguson,
Born Sept. 22, 1790;
Died Jan, 13, 1881.